A STRING of Brit territories around the world will be protected under new “blue belt” plans to save the oceans.

British waters represent the fifth largest marine estate in the world, with the seas around the 14 overseas territories home to an array of wildlife.

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They contain breeding grounds for endangered turtles, a third of the world’s albatrosses, a quarter of all penguins on Earth and the world’s largest coral atoll.

And the Government has committed to protect the waters around seven of these territories.

Some 2.5million square miles of ocean will be designated “blue belt”, according to Richard Benyon – one of 133 MPs who backed the campaign.

The waters around the British Indian Ocean Territory, Pitcairn, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands will all be protected under the scheme.

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A scientist sits with an albatross on South Georgia during filming for Blue Planet IICredit: BBC

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Emperor Penguins are seen in the previous series of BBC's Blue PlanetCredit: BBC

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Ascension Island in the Atlantic is one of the territories that will be protectedCredit: Alamy

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The waters around Pitcairn Island, pictured, will be designated 'blue belt'Credit: Alamy

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The seas around St Helena, pictured, are home to an array of marine lifeCredit: AFP or licensors

Short-finned pilot whale seen on Blue Planet II carrying dead baby calf around the ocean for days after death by plastic pollution

The commitment will see human activity such as tourism, oil and gas drilling, mining and fishing restricted in a bid to protect the creatures that live there.

The plan was described as “the greatest environmental commitment by any government ever” by Tory MP Zac Goldsmith.

The Government has already agreed to the scheme, which will be rolled out between now and 2020.

And after the latest series of Blue Planet – which ended last night by emphasising the need to take action to protect the oceans from human impact – campaigners are now urging ministers to put it into force.

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Blue Planet II captured the public's imagination with incredible shots like this one of a whale sharkCredit: BBC

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The documentary series emphasised the need to protect the world's oceansCredit: BBC

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False Killer Whales are seen in the South Pacific during Blue Planet IICredit: BBC

Willie Mackenzie, of Greenpeace told The Telegraph: “Blue Planet II has reminded us all of the wonder and awesomeness of the world’s marine life all over again – from diving the depths of the icy Antarctic to showing us an inventive octopus wearing a shell-suit.

“We now have a fantastic opportunity to create a lasting legacy for our shared blue planet.

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The plan is supported by Great British Oceans – a coalition of the Blue Marine Foundation, Greenpeace, Marine Conservation Society, The Pew Trusts, RSPB and Zoological Society of London.

And there are calls for the scheme to be rolled out even further.

A separate campaign – led by the Marine Conservation Society, Surfers Against Sewage, the High Seas Alliance and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition – is calling for at least 30 per cent of oceans around the world to be declared marine sanctuaries.

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